Controlling device for self-playing pianos.



R. J. BENNETT.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. z5, 1909..

1,009,715. Patented 1\nw.,28,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. J. BENNETT. I

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF PLAYING PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.25, 1909.

1,009,715. Ptend Nov. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE ROBERT J. BENNETT, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ARTISTA PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, 0F MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SELF-PLAYING- PIANOS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controlling Devices for Self-Playing Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to player pianos, or piano players, as the case may be, and has for its object the combination, in a certain improved way, of certain devices for operating the mechanism for controlling the automatic playing into a convenient arrangement that may be entirely concealed when not in use, and which will at the same time take up but little space within the instrument.

A further object is the arrangement of pivotal controlling handles or levers and devices in strong and compact form, in such shape as to be least liable to get out of working order, and with a view to facilitating the control of the playing mechanism.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my invention, embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichq Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my device with the parts exposed. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of Fig. 1, with the covering tempo lever down. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of a modified form of my device. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings-3 represents the key slip and 4 the key rail of a player piano. A cavity or recess 5 is provided in the key slip. Pivotally mounted within the recess 5 at 6 and 7 are a pair of levers 8, 9, connected by means of rods 10, 11, with the tone modifiers and other mechanism of the player piano. The recess is preferably provided with a casing, the top 12 of which is provided with an opening conforming in shape with the lever 8, so when the lever is turned horizontally it serves as a cover for the recess. A spring 13 is secured to the end of the recess holding the lever 8 in closed position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The lever 9, when out of operative position, is also turned Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 25, 1909.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 514,472.

down (also shown in dotted lines). By pressing down on the lower end of the lever 8 at 14, the lever isrswung on the pivot 6, the ear or lug 15 striking against the upper arm of the lever 9, throwing it upwardly into operative position. Thus by a single operation both levers lare brought into operative position.

The connections 10 and 11 with the tone modifiers and mechanism are so arranged that the lever 8 serves as a tempo regulator, while a movement of the lever 9 in one direction regulates the rewind mechanism; and when moved in the opposite direction it serves as a skip key. It will be noted that the portions of the levers extending above the key slip are of convenient size and shape for grasping by the thumb and fingers, or between the fingers, and are operable by a slight lateral movement of the hand.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the levers 27, 28, are pivotally mounted at 29 and 30, and are connected at their lower ends 31, 32, with the automatic player mechanism (not shown) by means of rods, 33, 34, preferably jointed at 35, 36. The upper ends of the levers are preferably formed with fingers 37, 38. A cover 39 is pivotally mounted on the casing 26 at 40, and adapted to be swung into place over the recess 5 after the levers are turned down, as shown in dotted position in Fig. 3, thus entirely covering the mechanism.

I do not limit myself to two keys, or to their use for any specific purpose, as they can be used to regulate or control any desired mechanism, and the number of keys can also be increased if desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention. By the use of my approved device, when the player mechanism is not in use, the levers are entirely out of sight, and the cover or back of the lever 8 lies fiush with the top of the key slip, thus presenting a smooth uninterrupted surface, with little, if any, indication that any mechanism is contained within the key slip.

It is evident that instead of increasing the number of keys or handles I may, if I desire, provide a duplicate of the mechanism and install it in the key slip separate and apart from that shown.

I claim:

1. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of pivoted levers connected to con necting rods for controlling the player mechanism by longitudinal movement of said rods and adapted to fold within said recess and draw said rods longitudinally when so folded.

2. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for controlling the player mechanismpivotally mounted within the recess and having handles adapted to fold toward each other within said'recess, and to project above said key slip only when in operative position.

3. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of associated levers for control-` ling the player mechanism pvotally mounted in said recess, one of said levers coveringl said recess when said levers are both depressed out of operative position.

4. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of levers for actuating the player mechanism pivotally mounted to fold within said recess, one of said levers covering said recess when said levers are out of operative position, and spring means for holding said lever in such position.

5. VIn a player piano, Jthe combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of a pair of levers for actuating the player mechanism pivotally mounted in said recess, and means whereby by the movement of one lever both are thrown into operative position.

6. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of a pair of levers t'or actuating the player mechanism pivotally mounted in said recess, and means mounted on one of said levers, adapted to engage the other, whereby by the movement of one lever both are thrown into operative position.

7. In a player piano, the combination with player mechanism, a key slip having a recess therein, of a pair of levers for actuating the player mechanism pivotally mounted in said recess, and a lug mounted on one of said levers and adapted to engage the other lever whereby both levers may be thrown into operative position by a single operation.

8. Inplaying mechanism, a plurality of associated levers pivoted for operation for controlling said mechanism, means for swinging one of said levers into inoperative position by movement in one direction, and means for swinging another lever into inoperative position by movement in the opposite direction, said second lever lying above said first lever when swung into inoperative position and acting as a cover therefor.

Signed by me at Rock Island, Illinois, this 20 day of August 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT.

' Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. THOMPSON, SHERMAN W. SEARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

